One matter that concerns many amateur radio operators is that of how far can they transit with their equipment and many hams go for as much power as they are allowed to try and get maximum range.
But is this necessary and would lower power work well? Many entry level rigs have power levels as low as 5 wats, so how far could you transmit with this?
It truly all depends, on the quality of the antenna, the band that you are operating on, the propagation conditions at the time, the levels of static and interference. It’s possible for a 5 watt ham radio to transmit around the world when conditions are right.
There is no calculation that you can make to find out how far you can transmit
It’s impossible to sat exactly just how far your ham radio set would transmit on 5 watts of power, simply because there are too many variables that can affect the signal.
If you consider that NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft flew past Pluto and used a signal of just 12 watts of power to transmit back to earth – a distance of 5 billion kilometers – you’ll see that power is not everything.
It can also depend on the receiver
As your signals travel away from your transmitter they will gradually become weaker and more difficult to receive.
A distant radio ham with a good quality and efficient antenna system may receive your signal whereas one closer to your location, using inferior equipment may not hear you at all.
Many ham radio operators like to use as little power as possible and will often transmit on 5 watts or less.
This is often referred to as QRP ( low power operation ) and the challenge is to reach out as far as possible with as least power as possible, making use of antenna systems and considering the atmospheric conditions.
Far more challenging than simply running at high power levels.
What’s the average distance for a 5 watt ham radio then?
If you operate a VHF or UHF ham radio, for example a hand held portable most of which work at around 5 watts, then the reality is that you are limited to line of sight operation.
If you are in a built up, urban area, then you may find that your transmissions will only cover a few miles, or even less.
However, if you are more rural, perhaps with some elevation then your signals will travel much further and will be less subjected to the attenuation associated with buildings and other obstacles.
5 watt, ham radio transmitters, working on VHF and UHF have been known to reach almost 100 miles in ideal conditions, and sometimes more.
On the other hand, when considering HF operations on SSB, a 5 watt transmitter could easily reach several hundred miles when conditions are suitable and even into other countries or continents.
If used with CW ( morse code ) then several thousand miles could be achieved.
How can the range of a 5 watt amateur radio be improved?
The antenna and the height of the antenna are the two key areas to improving the range of a low powered ham radio.
Often the antennas that are supplied with low powered ham radios, such as those that come with handhelds, are designed for portability and cheapness.
Installing something like a 1/4 wave ground plane that you can use with your handheld will give you increased performance and range.
Even better if you can position this antenna as high as possible from the ground, say up a tree, so that it is above as many obstacles as possible.
This thinking also applies to HF ham radios, invest in, or make the best antenna that you can and place it as high as possible for maximum effect.
What is the best 5 watt ham radio?
There are several excellent ham radios on the market, most of which are 5 watts or less.
If you are looking for a handheld with VHF UHF capabilities then the Yaesu Original FT-65 is ideal with its very small size and impressive performance.
It has an extensive list of features that come in a really neat package that will exceed the expectations of most ham operators.
If you are operating on the HF bands then there is a wide range of cost effective SDR transceivers available that cover all HF bands.
The Xiegu G90 is an excellent choice with adjustable power output that you can increase if you find that 5 watts is not enough.
Final Words
There is no real answer to the distance that you can get with a 5 watt ham radio as there are many factors that will affect performance.
However, with a bit of forethought and careful positioning you should be able to get the best range possible.
A little bit of effort will go a long way in enhancing your radio experience.
Read Next
- Will a CB antenna work for a ham radio?
- Why do you need a ham radio license?
- What’s better ham radio or CB radio?
- What’s an affordable ham radio for beginners?
- What kind of range can I get with a 10W ham radio?
- What kind of antenna do you need for ham radio?
